Shows / American Friction
American Friction
Does what’s going on in American politics scare and bemuse you? Want to know what Trump is up to, without pulling your hair out? Then you need American Friction, the UK podcast about US politics – from the makers of Oh God, What Now? and The Bunker. Every Friday and Monday, we unpack the big issues, speak to leading experts and talk with blockbuster commentators from the United States to explain the latest news and the big issues with hosts Jacob Jarvis (ex-Newsweek), Chris Jones (Podmasters)…
Episodes
American FrictionThe Trump coalition is dead
Donald Trump’s gang is breaking apart after a disastrous set of midterms for the president and his party. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpick how huge the results are…
American FrictionWitches, Jesus and Epstein – How Kansas politics got nasty
The midterm races have been a horrorshow across the board and Kansas has been no exception. Clay Wirestone of the Kansas Reflector joins Chris and Jarv to…
American FrictionDonald Trump: “I like big butts and I can’t not lie!”
Trump won’t stop talking about butts despite the GOP’s struggles in the run up to the midterms. Has he doomed his party to a wipeout? Nikki, Chris and Jarv…
American FrictionWhat’s angering American voters most? - With Molly Jong-Fast
American voters are mad, there’s no denying the anger being directed towards this Trump administration. But’s angering them the most? Molly Jong-Fast has her…
American FrictionTrump - America’s most unwanted
Donald Trump’s getting more unpopular by the day. How is that impacting the GOP’s chances in the midterms? Plus, Nikki and Chris discuss Vivek Ramaswamy’s…
American FrictionWhy Trump wants to suppress voters abroad
Millions of US citizens abroad could vote in the midterm elections, yet turnout among this group is consistently low. Why, and why is Donald Trump trying to…
American FrictionTalarico, Paxton and Trump – Why the GOP can’t afford to lose Texas
James Talarico is in strong form in Texas and it’s all to play for in his Senate race versus Ken Paxton. Just how disastrous would defeat across the Lone Star…
American FrictionTrump world’s latest bonkers conspiracy theory
The MAGA brainrot community has a new conspiracy theory… Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpick why when times get desperate, this is all the Trump faithful really have…
American FrictionChrista Pike, Trump and America's death penalty crisis
Content warning: This episode contains discussions related to executions some might find upsetting. Also, this was recorded before Pete Hegseth said Nidal…
American FrictionDonald Trump latest: The explosive toddler strikes again!
Donald Trump is talking about US cities being blown up as if it’s not that big a deal. Well, why not? According to him he can do anything he wants… Nikki…
American FrictionTrump thinks all news should be propaganda
Trump has cranked his media attacks up to eleven as he accuses journalists of committing treason for saying mean things about him. How worrying is this? And…
American FrictionTrump and the GOP are getting desperate
Trump and his cronies know they’re facing trouble in the midterms. Their plan? Replay the 2018 tactics and hope for the best… Nikki, Jarv and Chris discuss…
American FrictionTrump doesn’t understand A.I. or anything else
Donald Trump does not know what’s going on with artificial intelligence but he does know it might make him money. Jeff Jarvis, author of Hot Type and mega…
American FrictionDonald Trump hates free speech!
Trump used to bang on about free speech but clearly he doesn’t give a sh*t about it. Just how draconian has the president become? Jarv and Nikki discuss. Back…
American FrictionTrump vs. Carney – Lessons from Canada's MAGA battle
Canada’s Mark Carney is sticking it to Trump, what can we learn from him? Chris and Jarv ask Drew Fagan, professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and…
American FrictionTrump gets told no and throws a massive tantrum!
Trump has been told no he can’t attack mail-in voting how he wants and he is predictably angry. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss. Back us on Patreon!…
American FrictionTrump’s enablers – Who else is to blame for this mess?!
Trump’s power didn’t come automatically, a lot of people had to roll over to let him have the control of America he has. Jacob Weisberg joins Jarv and Chris to…
American FrictionTrump vs. Geography
Donald Trump’s threatening everyone’s sovereignty by changing every map ever. Dr Casey Burgat joins Chris to discuss Trump’s strategy here (spoiler, there…
American FrictionTrump and the neo-Nazis – How the president revived a crisis
Hate crimes carried out by Neo-Nazi Americans are on the rise. Why? And do white supremacist groups feel like they now have an ally in the White House? Eric…
American FrictionTrump and the MAGA gang get racist!
Trump and his cronies are trying to target their opponents in the best way they know how – racism! Nikki and Jarv discuss the fallout around Abdul El-Sayed and…
American FrictionAmerica is lurching right. Is this man to blame?
America’s Supreme Court has been taken over by conservatives, and Samuel Alito is one of the most powerful of all. As a member of The Federalist Society, how…
American FrictionEverybody hates Trump!
Trump is running out of mates everywhere as he goes on tariff tirades and has his offers of help in the midterms rejected. Nikki joins Jarv and Chris to…
American FrictionInside Trump's Truth Social swindle
Trump is working out new and inventive ways to grift, charging traders huge amounts of cash to get his Truth Social posts milliseconds early. What’s the point?…
American FrictionIs Natalie Harp the most powerful woman in America?
Trump’s aide Natalie Harp has been thrust into the spotlight and he’s really mad even though absolutely nothing weird is going on… Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack…
American FrictionMusk, Kushner and China – How oligarchs are selling out America
The US feels increasingly controlled by oligarchs. But who controls them? Casey Michel joins Chris and Jarv to discuss his new book United States of Oligarchy…
American FrictionInside Trump’s plot to jail Fauci
Dr Anthony Fauci has come under intense fire from the GOP over his role during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chris and Nikki discuss the evidence Rand Paul and Ron…
American FrictionWho is Larry Ellison? – How Trump’s buddy is destroying the media
Larry Ellison is one of the most prominent tech billionaires of the moment. Jeff Jarvis, author of the BuzzMachine blog, joins Jarv to discuss how he built his…
American FrictionTrump and the GOP – The battle of the embarrassments!
Donald Trump is embarrassing everyone and Republicans are trying to make themselves look even more stupid than him! Jarv and Nikki discuss the latest scandals…
American FrictionWill Trump’s communism rampage work?
Donald Trump won’t stop calling his enemies communists – but is it too old a reference for anyone to care? Jarv and Chris are joined by Maurice Isserman…
American FrictionTrump vs. RFK Jr. – Less vaccines, more food poisoning!
Donald Trump is angry at RFK Jr. for not being enough of a conspiracy theorist. Yeah, you read that right. What’s going on? Plus, why was the president so…
American FrictionTrump’s election lie machine explained – with Media Matters president Angelo Carusone
Trump’s still spreading lie after lie about elections and he’s got an army of media lackeys helping him. Media Matters president Angelo Carusone joins Chris…
American FrictionTrump and Sweaty Pete need more war money!
Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are desperate for more money for the Iran war. The defence secretary has been sweating away as he’s grilled in Congress – does…
American FrictionCelebrities vs. Trump – with special guest Molly Jong-Fast
The host of Fast Politics Molly Jong-Fast joins Jarv for a discussion on why celebrities need to speak out more politically. Plus, they discuss some of the…
American FrictionICE killings: A new normal in Trump’s America
ICE has carried out yet more public killings in America. Donald Trump, true to form, has stood by his not so secret police force. When will enough be enough…
American FrictionHow the GOP and the Dems got so weird
The Republicans and the Democrats are both in a weird place right now. How did they get to where they are? What were they like when they first started? And did…
American FrictionDonald Trump vs. Everyone
Trump’s been at NATO losing his head and lashing out at Iran in a spectacle which was mostly shocking because of how unsurprising it was. Nikki, Chris and Jarv…
American FrictionAmerica 250: What would the Founding Fathers make of Trump?
Donald Trump’s America has often been accused of laying siege to American freedoms and institutions - because, well it has. But more broadly, is America today…
American FrictionTrump: America’s Liberty Bellend
Happy Birthday America! The US turns 250 this weekend and it’s been quite the ride. But has Donald Trump 2.0 turned that ride into a nightmare? Chris and Nikki…
American FrictionAmerican Nightmare – How chaos and division took over Trump's United States
America has been a tumultuous place in recent years. Justin Glawe has been at the frontline of much of that chaos, covering carnage and unrest across the…
American FrictionTrump vs. The Senate – This time it’s personal
Trump is at odds with the Senate and tearing apart members of his own party. How will this temper tantrum play out? Nikki and Jarv discuss. Back us on Patreon…
American FrictionHow Dana White became Trump’s best friend
The UFC spectacle at the White House showed a new level of trashy corruption from Trump. Why did he do it and why does he love the man behind the UFC, Dana…
American FrictionDonald Trump and the deal that never was!
Trump has signed a deal agreeing to get a deal to end the war in Iran. He’s claiming a major victory, but it’s clearly a capitulation. Nikki, Chris and Jarv…
American FrictionIs Russell Vought the most powerful man in America?
Donald Trump says he alone can fix Washington — but is one unelected official actually running the show? Chris and Jarv are joined by journalist Andy Kroll to…
American FrictionTrump’s alternate reality – No, more wars! And no more boos!
Donald Trump insists he never said he would end any wars and denies being booed at a recent Knicks game — despite footage suggesting otherwise. Nikki, Chris…
American FrictionWhat Trump’s Truth Social posts tell us about him
Donald Trump has posted thousands of times on his social media platform Truth Social in just a few months, usually cranking out double figures of posts a day…
American FrictionTrump: I’m mad as hell and I don’t care anymore!
Donald Trump keeps insisting he “doesn’t care” — about Iran, Americans’ finances, or even the midterms. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss whether the president is…
American FrictionFixing America – Why the world shouldn't give up on the United States
America is in a crisis, but that doesn’t mean it’s beyond saving. Reverend Professor Keith Magee, chair of The Guardian Foundation, joins Jarv to discuss how…
American FrictionTrump’s dodgy health – Will we ever know the truth?
Trump says he’s perfectly healthy — but does anyone believe him? And will we ever know the truth? Chris and Jarv are joined by podcast favourite Casey Burgat…
American FrictionTrumpy no mates – The destruction of America’s reputation
Donald Trump has diminished America on the world stage and the nation seems to have fewer and fewer allies. Adam Serwer of the Atlantic joins Chris and Jarv to…
American FrictionTrump’s slush fund – The wildest cash grab of all time!
Donald Trump’s IRS settlement permanently blocks audits into his past tax returns and creates a controversial $1.7bn “Anti-Weaponization Fund”. Nikki, Chris…
- American Friction
What's the deal with Kash Patel?!
Kash Patel has been a controversial figure for a long time and now he’s a controversial FBI director – great! Eric Garcia, Washington bureau chief at The…
American FrictionIs Trump in love with Xi Jinping?!
Trump is in China and can’t seem to tell they’re getting one over him. Is it because he’s naive or because he actually wishes his government worked a bit more…
American FrictionTrump vs. God! – Who's going to win that argument?!
For a President who CLAIMS he’s religious, there's a whooooole lot of blasphemy going on under Trump’s second term. Not only has he compared himself to Jesus…
American FrictionIs Trump finally facing oblivion?
Trump is hurtling towards catastrophe as his presidency goes from worse to worse. With the midterms less than six months away, what are the key issues to look…
American FrictionTrump's secret scandal? – Insider trading explained with Kate Knibbs from Wired
Could insider trading be the next big scandal to seize America? We don’t know how widespread it is, but it seems, allegedly and reportedly, to be pretty bad…
American FrictionTrump: Never let an assassination attempt go to waste!
Donald Trump and MAGA are using the latest assassination attempt to push forward all sorts of demands and narratives. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss the fallout…
American FrictionAmerican Friction does Hot Take Time Machine – Crossover special from The Bunker!
• It’s Podmasters’ 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year’s Patreon backing. In a special crossover with The Bunker, Jacob Jarvis, Chris Jones and Nikki…
American Friction‘Trump is the most stupid leader in history’ – with Revolutions host Mike Duncan
Mike Duncan, host of the Revolutions podcast and expert on the Roman empire, joins Nikki and Jarv to discuss the decline of the American empire and how Trump…
American FrictionIs the pressure getting to Trump and his minions?!
Trump has had a baffling week, with cabinet chaos and another backtrack on Iran. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack the madness and do a latest deep dive on RFK…
- American Friction
Inside the downfall of a president – From Biden to Trump
How will the history books look back on Joe Biden’s time as President? Will he be remembered for leading the US out of a global pandemic, or has that…